Short-Straw Bride

RITA Award finalist Karen Witemeyer pens heartwarming historical romances that lift the spirit and the soul. Short-Straw Bride finds Meredith Hayes struggling to let go of her childhood crush on Travis Archer - the strapping young lad who saved her as a little girl. With a sensible proposal from the eligible Roy Mitchell on the table, it’s time for her to move on. But when Meredith overhears a plot to drive Travis and his brothers off their coveted land, she has no choice but to intervene.

No Other Will Do: Ladies of Harper's Station, Book 1

Men are optional. That's the credo Emma Chandler's suffragette aunts preached and why she started a successful women's colony in Harper's Station, Texas. But when an unknown assailant tries repeatedly to drive them out, Emma admits they might need a man after all. A man who can fight - and she knows just the one.

Head in the Clouds

Following the stunning success of her high-spirited debut, Karen Witemeyer delivers this compelling blend of humor and romance. When Adelaid Proctor finds herself stranded in 1883 Texas, she’s hired by a British-born sheep rancher as governess for a daughter still grief-stricken over her mom’s death. As Adelaid gently draws the girl out of her shell of silence, the governess and sheep rancher, at first, resist their mutual attraction.

A Worthy Pursuit

Stone Hammond is the best tracker in Texas. He never comes home empty handed. So when a wealthy railroad investor hires him to find his abducted granddaughter, Stone eagerly accepts. Charlotte Atherton, former headmistress of Sullivan's Academy for Exceptional Youths, will do anything to keep her charges safe, especially the little girl entrusted to her care after her mother's death.

A Tailor-Made Bride

A rising star in Christian fiction, Karen Witemeyer brilliantly blends humor and romance in this compelling debut novel. Texas liveryman Jericho “J.T.” Tucker wants nothing to do with the town’s new dressmaker, Hannah Richardson. He’s all too familiar with her kind - shallow, more devoted to fashion than true beauty. Except for her well-tailored clothing, however, she’s not at all what he expected.

Full Steam Ahead

When Nicole Renard returns home to Galveston from an eastern finishing school, she's stunned to find her father in ill health. Though she loves him, he's only ever focused on what she's not. Not male. Not married. Not able to run their family business, Renard Shipping. Vowing to secure a suitable marriage partner, Nicole sets out with the Renard family's greatest treasure: a dagger personally gifted to Nicole's father by the pirate Jean Lafitte.

Grace and the Preacher

Mistaken identity leads to romance, laughter, and second chances in this inspirational historical romance. The Kansas community of Fairland anticipates the arrival of their new minister. Over the past several months, late in 1882, postmistress Grace Cristler has communicated with Reverend Dille via letters, answering his questions about the little town and its members, and developing an affection for the man who pens thoughtful missives.

Treasured Grace: Heart of the Frontier, Book 1

Grace Martindale has known more than her share of hardship. After her parents died, raising her two younger sisters became her responsibility. A hasty marriage to a minister who is heading to the untamed West seemed like an opportunity for a fresh start, but a cholera outbreak along the wagon trail has left Grace a widow in a very precarious position.

An Arrangement of Sorts

He was intrigued...Nathaniel Hammond, Earl of Beverton, is working to restore his new estate and aid his tenants. But everything changes when he meets the beautiful and mysterious Moira Dennison, a bold young woman who offers to hire him, unaware of his title, to help her find her fiancé. Curious and unable to resist, Nathan accepts her offer, keeping his true identity a secret, never dreaming of what the future held for him.

The Trouble with Patience: Virtues and Vices of the Old West, Book 1

Patience Cavanaugh has lost hope in romance. The man she yearned to marry is dead, and her dreams are gone with him. Now she is consumed with restoring a dilapidated boardinghouse in order to support herself. Despite Patience's desire for solitude, Jedediah Jones, the local marshal with a reputation for hanging criminals, becomes an ever-looming part of her life.

The Lost Heiress: Ladies of the Manor, Book 1

Brook Eden has never known where she truly belongs. Though raised in the palace of Monaco, she's British by birth and was brought to the Grimaldis under suspicious circumstances as a babe. When Brook's friend, Justin, uncovers the fact that Brook is likely a missing heiress from Yorkshire, Brook leaves the sun of the Mediterranean to travel to the moors of the North Sea, to the estate of her supposed family.

A Treasure Concealed

Emily Carver wants a home where she can put down roots instead of following her gold-hungry father from one mining camp to another. She also longs for tenderness and love, both of which are missing in her life. Yet when she realizes she's losing her heart to the intriguing new man in camp, she fiercely fights her feelings, afraid that love will only result in disappointment and heartache.

Seeking Persephone

When Persephone Lancaster receives a marriage proposal from the ill-tempered Duke of Kielder, she refuses - and then reconsiders. The obscene sum of money he's offering Persephone would save her family from ruin. With her characteristic optimism, she travels to the far reaches of Northumberland to wed a greatly feared stranger. Lodged deep in a thick forest infested with wild dogs, the Duke's castle is as cold and forbidding as the Duke himself, a man with terrible scars on his body and his soul.

Swept Away

Swept away when her wagon train attempts a difficult river crossing, Ruthy MacNeil isn't all that upset at being separated from the family who raised her. All they've ever done is work her to the bone. She prayed for a chance to get away, and then came the raging flood. Alive but disoriented, she's rescued by Luke Stone...so unfortunately, there are more chances to die in her immediate future. Luke is heading home to reclaim the ranch stolen from his family.

A Lasting Impression: A Belmont Mansion Novel

Best-selling author Tamera Alexander has won numerous awards, including the Christy Award and RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance. Set in Nashville’s historic Belmont Mansion, A Lasting Impression is an affecting tale of romance between an aspiring artist and a man determined to rise from near ruin.

A Noble Groom

Recently widowed Annalisa Werner has the feeling her husband was murdered but can't prove it. Alone with her young daughter in 1881 Michigan, she has six months left to finish raising the money needed to pay back the land contract her husband purchased, and the land is difficult to toil by herself. She needs a husband. With unmarried men scarce, her father sends a letter to his brother in the Old Country, asking him to find Annalisa a groom.

For Love and Honor

Lady Sabine is harboring a skin blemish, one, that if revealed, could cause her to be branded as a witch, put her life in danger, and damage her chances of making a good marriage. After all, what nobleman would want to marry a woman so flawed? Sir Bennet is returning home to protect his family from an imminent attack by neighboring lords who seek repayment of debts. Without fortune or means to pay those debts, Sir Bennet realizes his only option is to make a marriage match with a wealthy noblewoman.

Always Watching: Elite Guardians Series #1

The bodyguards of Elite Guardians Agency have more than just skill and prowess in common; they're also all women. When it becomes clear that popular psychiatrist and radio personality Wade Savage has a stalker, his father secretly hires Elite Guardians in order to protect his son. But when Wade's bodyguard is attacked and nearly killed, agency owner Olivia Edwards must step in and fill the gap.

The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill: Tales From Ivy Hill, Book 1

The lifeblood of the Wiltshire village of Ivy Hill is its coaching inn, The Bell. But when the innkeeper dies suddenly, his genteel wife, Jane Bell, becomes the reluctant owner. Jane has no notion of how to run a business. However, with the town's livelihood at stake and a large loan due, she must find a way to bring new life to the inn. Despite their strained relationship, Jane turns to her resentful mother-in-law, Thora, for help.

Beyond the Silence

Lillian Porter has always wanted to fulfill her mother's dream of going west, so when she hears about a nanny position in Angels Camp, California, she defies her grandfather and takes a chance on a new future. But she quickly wonders if she made the right choice. There are rumors in town that her new employer, Woodward Colton, caused the death of his wife. This accusation doesn't match the man Lillian comes to know.

The Promise of Dawn

When Signe, her husband, Rune, and their three boys arrive in Minnesota from Norway to help a relative clear his land of lumber, they dream of owning their own farm and building a life in the New World. But Uncle Einar and Aunt Gird are hard, demanding people, and Signe and her family soon find themselves worked nearly to the bone in order to repay the cost of their voyage. At this rate they will never have land or a life of their own.

Fire & Ice

Bailey Wilde is one of the best new ranchers in the West. She's been living disguised as a man for a while, but when Gage Coulter comes to drive her off her homestead, he quickly realizes he's dealing with a woman - a very tough, very intriguing woman at that. Gage is an honest man, but he didn't make his fortune being weak. He won't break the law, but he'll push as hard as he can within it.

Guide Me Home: A Novel

Twenty-one-year-old Rebecca Hardin is determined to help provide for her family, living a hardscrabble life in 1910 in the Southern Kentucky hills. Her brother, Andy, died when he became lost in a cave five years earlier, and Rebecca feels responsible for his death because she'd told him to "go, get lost". The best wages at Mammoth Cave are earned by the guides, who receive a salary plus tips from the guests. But only men are allowed to be guides, so Rebecca cuts her hair, dons some of Andy's clothes, and introduces herself as Reb to the estate manager.

A Sensible Arrangement: Lone Star Brides, Book 1

Marty Dandridge Olson is a widow looking for a way out of Texas. Widower Jake Wythe has secured a job as a bank manager in Denver, only to discover that the bank board wants him to be a married man. With Texas in his roots, he advertises for a Lone Star bride, and Marty answers the call. They both agree they are done with romance and love and will make this nothing more than a marriage of convenience. Marty works to carve out a new life in high-society Denver as Jake works to guide the bank through a collapsing economy.

Publisher's Summary

RITA Award nominee Karen Witemeyer is acclaimed for her winning blend of history, humor, and romance. In this heartstirring tale, repentant exconvict Levi Grant comes to Spencer, Texas, in 1887 - hoping to put his past behind him and start out fresh as the town’s new blacksmith. To promote civility, Eden Spencer runs her own lending library, where she discovers Levi’s love of literature. But just as romance begins to bloom, Eden learns of Levi’s prodigal past.

What made the experience of listening to To Win Her Heart the most enjoyable?

It is a precious thing in a world full of so much compromise, to find a novel that is so true to the heart of God. The struggles of life, redemption, growth, forgiveness, and unconditional love are some of the things you will find in this novel. It is heartwarming to see love blossom in the order it was meant by God; in the midst of facing the hardships of life and learning to make the right choices without compromising no matter how difficult they may be.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Levi was my favorite character in this story because he is a shining example that a persons past does not have to define who they are. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

Which character – as performed by Therese Plummer – was your favorite?

Eden was my favorite performed character! I love the inflections and sweet southern bell accent Therese gave to Eden's voice. Although I live in Texas and have a southern draw myself, there is no way that my mind would have created such a perfect voice for Eden!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely! I found it absolutely painful to part from. Though I wasn't able to finish it all in one sitting (as I a mother of five children and finding time is a difficult thing), I finished it in two days time and now I am listening to it again!

Any additional comments?

I will be purchasing all of Karen Witemeyer's books, and audiobooks. She has made it to my favorite author's shelf! :)

I love books! All kinds... classics, mysteries, Christian fiction, suspense and action! I'm also a sucker for anything romantic. ;) And just recently started getting into some non-fiction, philosophical books.

If you could sum up To Win Her Heart in three words, what would they be?

Inspiration, Strength, Love

Who was your favorite character and why?

I fell in love with Levi right along with the main character, and I can't explain why without giving away too much of the book!

What about Therese Plummer???s performance did you like?

She did very well... but as a Texan, I heard more of the eastern southern belle accent in her characters than a southern Texas accent. Other than that, I enjoyed her pace of reading and her representation of the characters.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed out loud at certain moments, and yes, I got teary eyed towards the end.

Any additional comments?

I like how this book incorporated so many things! Romance, of course, but also forgiveness, prejudice, class distinction, violence... and so much more. As I read/listen to more of Karen Witemeyer's books, I can see her growth and her passion for the Lord. The characters are in real relationships, they deal with real issues, but they work through things, talk to each other, and get through things together. Issues in this book as well as her other's could have been taken in a petty, silly, or superficial way, but she manages to circumvent such literary traps and creates a very enjoyable, intriguing and romantic stories that can be enjoyed without having to roll my eyes at certain parts. I highly recommend her, and can't wait until her new book comes out.

It's my first experience with an audiobook and since I'm not a native english speaker, I was a little uncertain. But I fell in love with the story. It's a wonderful inspirational romance with lessons of forgiveness and humanity.And I think the narrator is a really talented actress with a gifted voice that really help me to understand the dialogues and is "in tune" with the emotions of the story.

Would you consider the audio edition of To Win Her Heart to be better than the print version?

This was my second Witemeyer book and I really enjoyed it. The hero, Levi, is such a humble, sweet man and my heart broke with the way he was treated at times and the struggles he faced. Eden's character got on my nerves at times with her self-righteousness, and it took a non-Christian girl to show her how snooty she had been. At times, there were too many musings with the characters. The narrator was enjoyable and easy to listen to, though she had the female characters speak in a Southern accent instead of a Texas drawl. Being from Texas myself, I had to get over that minor detail. Overall, the story was an enjoyable listen.

If you could sum up To Win Her Heart in three words, what would they be?

Exciting , interesting and beautiful!

What was one of the most memorable moments of To Win Her Heart?

When Levi showed Eden his surprise.

Which character – as performed by Therese Plummer – was your favorite?

Levi was my favorite but Therese Plummer is the best narrator I have ever listened to !

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Love, Romance and Forgiveness.

Any additional comments?

I would highly recommend that this book be made into a movie. Karen Witemeyer is my favorite author, bringing good Christian reading with the love of God and lessons from the bible.. Therese Plummer should be the only narrator Ms. Whitemeyer uses, as she has the gift of many voices, female as well as male.<br/>I could not put the book down reading it in one day and I am anxious to read it over again.!

First time author, this book's genre is classified as historical Christian romance novel. It won an award for best inspirational novel last year and since I like to give new author's a shot, I decided to get this book. It was pretty good, made you smile, even brought a tear to my eye but since the genre is what it is I was pretty sure it would all come out OK in the end, which it did. It was set in Texas in the 1880's. It did make me think about current day comparisons as a key part of this story is a man, Levi, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, a felony, and part of what he had to do to overcome that stigma. In current times it seems many felons don't get a second chance, it's a tough road to hoe to wipe the slate clean and lead a good, productive life.

This book greatly surprised me by how much I enjoyed it. I rarely read love stories and I don't read Christian fiction very often. so I admit I wasn't expecting to get a lot of pleasure from this book.

But I did, I really enjoyed the two main characters their flaws, the things that they struggled with, and how they came to know one another.

I enjoyed the Christian aspect of the book because it wasn't overly preachy, like so many other Christian fiction books can be. these people lived thier religion in a very natural and normal way, and I enjoyed that.

it would've gotten 5 stars, but hey I need to save those for really really good books.

Would you consider the audio edition of To Win Her Heart to be better than the print version?

Yes, thanks to the remarkably well read audible book, but the book is also excellent.

What did you like best about this story?

The romance being so unexpected for both Levi and Eden, neither expect to find love. Eden has been disappointed in love in the past and Levi is more focused on hiding his speech impediment and criminal record than finding romance. Also, Levi's gorgeous.

What about Therese Plummer’s performance did you like?

She makes a great job of all the voices even Levi's.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

You'll fall in love...

Any additional comments?

It's a lovely story, not just a romance but a heart warming tale of redemption.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Rachel Brand

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

1/15/12

Overall

"Took a while to get started but otherwise great"

This book took a while to get started but I ended up loving it! I got so involved with the characters' lives and trials and tribulations and was grinning my head off by the end of the story. If it hadn't been so slow for the story to get going and for the characters to start to overcome their struggles I'd say this book was perfect, but since I did have a few qualms with it I'll give it 4.5 stars.

A note on the narrator: Excellent! The best narrator I've ever had in an audiobook. She gave all of the characters brilliant Southern accents that made the Texas setting truly come alive. Only a couple of the minor characters seemed to have voices that overlapped so overall it was easy to distinguish between who was speaking. The only downside to her reading of the book was that the Scottish character sounded Irish for the entire book, except for one scene where he's injured and not talking properly! But the narrator is American so I'll let her off with the Scottish/Irish accent confusion. If you enjoy Karen Witemyer's novels and are looking to get into audiobooks, definitely try this one. I can't recommend it enough.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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